Baby 'the size of two mobile phones' miraculously survives

12 April 2012

When Deborah and Russell Anderson learned they were finally expecting the baby they longed for, they decided to enjoy their last long-haul holiday for years.

But their two-week trip to South Africa became a traumatic six-month stay after Deborah gave birth to their son Henry at just 26 weeks.

The couple had hoped the £3,000 holiday in Cape Town would be a relaxing antidote to the 12 months they had spent undergoing IVF treatment.

Instead, they ran up medical bills of £70,000 and expenses of nearly £40,000 while Henry battled for life. He was the size of two mobile phones and just 1lb 14oz when he arrived in the world 14 weeks early on May 12.

Only now, after two operations and four months in intensive care, is Henry a healthy weight of 8lb 1oz and able to come home to Britain.

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Tiny: Newborn Henry lying next to Russell's mobile

The world's most premature baby, Amillia Taylor, was born in America at just 21 weeks last year. But at 26 weeks, Henry still had just a 60 per cent chance of survival.

'It's a miracle he's here,' said Deborah, 33, a complementary therapist from Cheltenham. 'All the odds were stacked against him. But seeing him so healthy and full of life makes the past six months seem worthwhile.'

The couple went on holiday in March, when Deborah was just four months pregnant. In the previous 12 months she had learned she had pelvic inflammatory disease and that IVF was her only chance of having a child. So the couple were thrilled when she became pregnant at the first try.

But as Deborah sunbathed on a beach, she started to bleed and was rushed to the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital. Surgeons took emergency measures to try to stop the baby being born but after eight weeks in hospital Deborah gave birth to Henry. He was rushed into intensive care and doctors warned he might not survive.

Russell, 35, a financial adviser, said: 'They put him on a tray rather than in an incubator because he was so tiny and frail, they needed easier access. He was only two-and-a-half times as big as my mobile, very thin and his skin felt like paper. He had tiny nappies and a dummy the size of a 10p piece.

'The first week was touch and go, and after six days the doctor was concerned because of the number of times he had been resuscitated.'

Deborah said: 'He had one-on-one 24-hour care, but the number of monitors and wires coming out of Henry made us very scared. I wasn't allowed to hold him until the second week. He was so small but it was wonderful to pick him up.'

Deborah and Russell were shown how to hold Henry against their skin – a technique called 'kangaroo care' which helps premature babies bond with their parents.

Henry then faced a battle to survive, against the odds, as his lungs were still not fully matured. He also had two life-saving operations – to correct a breathing problem and a hernia – and was regularly given oxygen to help him breathe.

'We had to watch him being bagged with oxygen and brought back to life. The first few times were very distressing. Neither of us has ever cried as much as we did then,' Russell said.Deborah added: 'It was horrible to see Henry lifeless and the doctors trying desperately to revive him. We could only watch and pray. It was so hard, and we nearly lost him several times.'

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Miracle: Russelll and Deborah will fly home with Henry this week

Russell said: 'While Henry was in hospital, two other babies died. It made us realise what a miracle he is.' After Henry had been in special care for four months, doctors allowed him to return with his parents to their holiday flat. This week they are set to fly home.

Deborah said: 'Henry is wearing newborn clothes now, he's feeding normally and waking us in the night. We're looking forward to going back to the UK.'

Henry's paediatrician will travel with him in case he needs emergency help. The Andersons' insurers Cega has covered all expenses.

Deborah said: 'We have ended up spending more than six months abroad. But it has been worth it, because it gave us our miracle baby.'

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